Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for gathering information

Abstract

Presented are a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for gathering information. An exemplary apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory storing computer instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the memory with the computer instructions and the at least one processor are configured to cause the apparatus to at least receive a flight path from a predetermined location to a location of an emergency. The apparatus is further caused to travel the flight path from the predetermined location to the location of the emergency, capture information at the location of the emergency, and transmit the captured information.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by a processor, a notification of an emergency situation, the notification comprising a location of the emergency situation; 
 (b) in response to the receiving, automatically deploying, by the processor, an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the UAS operable to capture information at the location of the emergency situation; 
 (c) traveling, by the UAS, a flight path from a predetermined location to the location of the emergency; 
 (d) capturing, by the UAS, information at the location of the emergency situation; 
 (e) receiving, by the processor, the captured information from the UAS; and 
 (f) transmitting the received information to at least one of a plurality of mobile devices, emergency responders and websites, wherein the notification is one of a 911 call, a post to a social media website, and a report from a news outlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising determining a flight path from a predetermined location to the location of the emergency situation. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the flight path comprises traveling from the predetermined location to the emergency situation, circling the location of the emergency situation, and returning to the predetermined location. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , the method further comprising amending the flight path based on at least one of a new emergency situation, and an obstacle in the flight path. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the captured information comprises at least one of photographs, video, audio, gas sensors, infrared sensors, and light sensors. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the UAS is operable to capture at least one of photographs, video, audio, gas sensor information, infrared sensor information, and light sensor information. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , the method further comprising determining which UAS to deploy from a plurality of UAS based a plurality of specifications associated with each one of the plurality of UAS. 
     
     
       8. An unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the UAS comprising a plurality of propellers, at least one motor, at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, a capture device, at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the at least one memory with the computer instructions and the at least one processor are configured to cause the UAS to at least:
 receive, by the at least one receiver, a flight path from a predetermined location to a location of an emergency; 
 travel, by the plurality of propellers, the flight path from the predetermined location to the location of the emergency; 
 capture information, by the capture device, at the location of the emergency; 
 transmit, by the at least one transmitter, the captured information; and 
 search for the location of the emergency if the location of the emergency is incorrect. 
 
     
     
       9. The UAS according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of propellers, and a capture device. 
     
     
       10. The UAS according to  claim 8 , wherein the captured information comprises at least one of photographs, video, audio, gas sensors, infrared sensors, and light sensors. 
     
     
       11. The UAS according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is operable to capture at least one of photographs, video, audio, gas sensor information, infrared sensor information, and light sensor information. 
     
     
       12. The UAS according to  claim 8 , wherein the flight path comprises circling the location of the emergency. 
     
     
       13. The unmanned aircraft according to  claim 8 , wherein the transmitted captured information is transmitted to at least one of a plurality of mobile devices, emergency responders, websites and servers. 
     
     
       14. A deployment apparatus for unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the deployment apparatus comprising at least one processor and a memory storing computer instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the memory with the computer instructions and the at least one processor are configured to cause the deployment apparatus to at least:
 receive a notification for services, the notification comprising a location and a description; 
 determine which one of a plurality of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to deploy based on at least one of the location and the description; 
 determine a flight path from a predetermined location to the location; 
 deploy the one of the plurality of UAS, the one of the plurality of UAS operable to travel from the predetermined location to the location; 
 receive flight information from the deployed one of the plurality of UAS during a flight from the predetermined location to the location along the determined flight path; and 
 updating a predetermined flight path database based on the received flight information, and wherein the flight information comprises information regarding obstructions, buildings, roads, traffic patterns, weather, and vegetation. 
 
     
     
       15. The deployment apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the one of the plurality of UAS is operable change the determined flight path in response to obstructions, buildings, roads, traffic patterns, weather, and vegetation.